Neil Cavuto Resorts to Lying Again to Make A Point

Neil Cavuto, the anchor of Fox's purported "premiere business news" program, Your World w/Neil Cavuto, is spending considerable time on the William Jefferson, (D-LA) indictment. It's a natural for Cavuto, of course, because what could be better red meat with which to bash Democrats? Problem is, Cavuto is having a hard time making his points without lying. He did so last week and he did so again today (June 13, 2007).

After a report from Fox's Kris Gutierrez in Louisiana, Cavuto turned to Los Angeles attorney and frequent talking head, Leo Terrell, to chew over the fact that it has been ten whole days since Williams' indictment but he still hasn't resigned, and should he?

Terrell argued that he shouldn't; that he's innocent until proven guilty. Toward the end of their discussion, Cavuto, who is using this topic to illustrate how morally superior Republicans are to the supposedly unethical and hypocritical Democrats, said, as a matter of fact that:

We know in the past, from even Republican congressman who've been indicted, they just step down while they work this out. And there is something to be said about trying to avoid all the negative stuff that comes with being an indicted congressman -- just for the sake, not only of your district, but the people and the body you serve.

(Emphasis added.)

Comment: To all you Fox watchers out there -- Cavuto's taking you for fools with short memories who don't pay attention. One only need look back a little more than 12 months and recall one Tom DeLay -- remember him? -- to see the lie in Cavuto's argument. DeLay was indicted on September 28, 2005 and no, he didn't exactly "just step down" while they worked it out, "for the sake" of his district and the people and the body he served. No, DeLay didn't "just step down" until more than six months later, on April 3, 2006. When the aim is to spread propaganda instead of to report facts, pesky details like these only get in the way.